Thread swaging apparatus



May 2.0, 1941. J, w, SHERA 2,242,662

THREAD SWAGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5g 43 H1 I HHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHUUI /4 46 4f fl "IMM|||||||||||||||||||||m|||m "gli" j Px lff =`F 76 n 32 Z3 2 7 //V|//vro@. 45 `/o/,w W 6fm-PA Ffa. WM

May 20, 1941. 1 w SHERA 2,242,662

THREAD SWAGING APPARATUS s sheets-sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1939 May 20, 1941. W SHERA 2,242,662 THREAD swAGING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 25, 1959 s sheetssheet 3 "IIIIIIIIIIIII A Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED STATES PATEN 2,242,662 THREAD SWAGING APPARATUS Application December 23, 1939, Serial No. 310,782

(Cl. Sil-6) 8 Claims.

The invention relates to thread swaging apparatus and more particularly to a machine for threading a neck projecting from a sheet metal blank or wall; and the invention is an improvement upon the lapparatus shown in the Draper' Patent No. 2,145,587.

In the thread swaging apparatus shown in said Patent No. 2,145,587, a central threading die is mounted on a vertical shaft journaled in a rotary head, and an outer threading die is mounted on the upper end of a lever pivoted on a horizontal axis on the head. In operation, tremendous pressures are developed between the threading dies; and the forces producing said pressures also produce undesirable reactions at other places inthe apparatus. Thus, a tilting action is transmitted to the rotary head which tends to cause wabbling thereof during rotation, resulting in excessive wear on the bearings for and carried by the head. Likewise, a squeezing action occurs at the threading dies causing excessive wear on certain of the die hearings.

These difficulties may be overcome by using specially designed bearings at the places where excessive wear occurs, Ibut such a solution of the problem involves considerable expense and does not eliminate the cause of the difficulties.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide thread swaging apparatus of the type described, in which the forces incident to the development of high swaging pressures do not cause excessive wear on simple bearings for certain parts of the apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide thread swaging apparatus of the type described in which the rotary head thereof is not subjected to a tilting or wabbling action.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide thread swaging apparatus of the type described in which a squeezing action, as distinguished from swaging pressure, between the threading dies is eliminated.

Also it is an object of the present invention to provide thread swaging apparatus of the type described in which no special ibearings are required.

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the stated difficulties and provide for the above objectives without excessive expense.

These and other objects may be obtained by the elements, parts, combinations, sub-combinations, and constructions constituting the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, and is hereinafter claimed and described in detail, which may be stated in general terms as including in thread swaging apparatus, a frame, power means, a rotary head journaled in the frame, a normally stationary, preferably vertical shaft journaled in the rotary head on the axis thereof, a first threading die mounted on said shaft immediately above said head, bearing means for said shaft on said frame, said shaft journal including upper bearing means on said head adjacent said rst die, and lower bearing means on said head adjaing means, said lever being adapted to move the second threading die radially toward and away from the first threading die, means driven 'by the power means for rotating the second die about its axis, means driven by the power means for rotating the rotary head, the axis of the second die revolving about the axis of the rst die as the rotary head rotates, means for oscillating the lever on its pivot shaft, and means driven by the power means for driving said oscillating means.

An embodiment of the improvements in thread swaging apparatus constituting the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional view of improved thread swaging apparatus of the type shown in Draper Patent No. 2,145,587, embodying the present improvements, taken on the line l-I, Fig. 2, with the rotating head and certain other parts shown in elevation and with a pneumatic clamp shown in an alternative position in dot-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with the clamping mechanism removed, looking in the direction of the arrows 2 2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on the line 3--3, Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional View, taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan sectional View taken on the line 5--5, Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 2, illustrating the construction of certain of the parts shown in full lines in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary Vertical sectional view with certain parts in elevation, taken on the line 1 1, Figs. 2 and 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the roller threading dies shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 8.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The improved thread swaging Vapparatus may include a frame structure or housing generally indicated at I9, having an end wall II, side walls I2, a top wall I3 and an intermediate partition wall I4. A main driving motor I5 may constitute the power means for driving the thread swaging apparatus and may be mounted in any suitable or usual manner on the frame structure I9.

The motor l5 is preferably provided with a V-pulley drive I6 at one end of the motor shaft thereof. The top wall I3 is preferably provided with an annular, reinforced, L-shaped shouldered portion I1, forming a large opening I8 and an annular recess I9; and the rotary head 29 is journaled in said recess I 9 and maintained assembled therein by a closing ring plate 2l secured to top plate I3 by any suitable means such as by bolts 22.

A ring gear 23 is secured to the underside of rotary head 29, meshing with pinion 24 secured to the upper end of shaft 25 journaled in bracket 26 and in intermediate partition wall I4. A V- i drive pulley 21 is secured to the lower end of shaft 25, and V-drive belts 28, preferably supply power from drive pulley I6 to pulley 21.

Rotary head 26, in accordance with the present improvements, is provided with a downwardly extending preferably angular bracket 29, having a lower support portion 39. A normally stationary, or rotatably fixed, preferably vertical, die spindle and cam shaft, preferably comprising upper portion 3! and lower portion 32 coupled together by coupling 33 is journaled in rotary head 29, preferably on the axis thereof with the upper end of upper portion. 3I extending through the head within the periphery thereof.

The journal for shaft 3I-32 in rotary head 20 includes an upper bearing 34 in rotary head 29, and a lower bearing 35 in lower support portion 30. Upper shaft portion 3| is provided at its upper end with a roller thread swaging die 36 immediately above head 29 and adjacentbearing 34. Shaft portion 3l is also provided intermediate its ends with a gear 31, and is provided adjacent its lower end with thrust ball bearings 38 engaging against each side of an ear 39 projecting from head plate bracket 29.

Upper shaft member 3l may be accurately axially adjusted and wear on bearings 38 taken up by usual adjusting means 49. Lower shaft member 32 is also journaled in bearing 4I in intermediate partition wall I4 adjacent to the bearing 35, and has a gear 42 fixed to its lowei` end, which meshes with pinion 43 on shaft of back off motor 44, mounted in any suitable manner on frame structure I 9. Back off motor 44 may be provided with a brake mechanism 45 to prevent shaft 3I-32 from rotating except when actuated by back off motor 44.

A gear 46 is journaled on lower shaft portion 32 intermediate the shaft bearings 35 and 4 I, and

has a cam 41 xed thereto; and gear 46 meshes with pinion 48 mounted on drive shaft 25.

Lever 49 is pivotally mounted on the head 20 on a pivot shaft 59, whose axis is parallel with the axis of shaft 3I-32. An upper bearing 5I in head 20 adjacent bearing 34 is provided for u to which shaft journaling the upper end of pivot shaft 50, and a lower bearing 52 is provided on lower support portion 30 adjacent bearing 35 for the lower end of pivot shaft 59; and said bearing 52 is also adjacent bearing 4I for a purpose to be later described.

An angular arm 53 is provided at the upper end of lever 49, in which arm 53, shaft 54 is journaled vby bearing 55; and a rotary roller threading` die 56 is mounted on the upper end of shaft 54 above head 29 opposite threading die 36. Shaft 54 is parallel to and spaced from lever pivot shaft 59 and shaft 3I-32; and in order to locate v.die v56 at the position shown in the drawings,

angular arm 53 on lever 49 extends upward through an opening 51 in rotary head 29. The parts are so arranged that movement of lever 49 moves die 56 radially toward and away from die 36, as best shown in Fig. 9.

Shaft 54 is provided with a gear 58 opposite gear 31 on shaft 3|; and is also provided with thrust ball bearings 59 engaging against ear 66 projecting from lever 49 for taking the thrust 54 is subjected during operation.

Lever 49 is provided at its lower end with an angular arm 6I for mounting roller 62, which engages cam 41; and spring means 63 extends between lever 49 and head plate bracket 29 to urge the lever to move to a position separating threading roller dies 36 and 56, excepting when die 56 is radially moved toward die 36 by cam 41.

Gears 31 and 58 are preferably provided with long teeth so as to be in engagement with any position of the lever 49.

The gear ratio of gears 2-24 and 46-48 is such that during any cycle of operation, cam 41 makes one more or one less revolution than rotary head 20; or in other words, a cycle of operation may be defined as one in which cam 41 makesone revolution relative to rotary head 20.

The apparatus is preferably provided with means for clamping material to be worked upon. which may include a pneumatically operated cylinder 64 operating a linkage system 65 on which a clamping plate 66 is mounted. The upper or retracted position of clamping plate 66 is shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the lower or clamping position of the plate 66 is shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 1.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Assume thatrit is desired to provide a thread formation, preferably a V-sided thread formation, or a standard pipe thread, in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal wall. The metal blank is placed on cover ring 2I with the neck telescoped around stationary roller swaging die 36 and the blank is clamped in that position by operation Vof clamping plate 66. y

Motor I5 is then started, which rotates-rotary head 29, and meanwhile, die 36 is held stationary by brake 45 on back off motor 44. As rotary head 2U rotates, lever 49 is rotated therewith, which revolves the axis of roller swaging die 56 about the axis of die 36. In so revolving, swaging die 56 is rotated about its own axis by the engagement of gears 31 and 58, gear 31 being fixed to normally stationary shaft 3|.

1 Meanwhile, cam. 41- is also rotated and during a cycle of operation the cam will rotate one revolution more or less than the number of revolutions made by the rotating head, so that during the cycle of operation, revolving rotating roller die 56 moves in radially of stationary die 36 to the position best shown in Fig. 8, and then moves away from the same by the operation of lever 49 by cam 4l, so that roller dies 36 and 56 roll, swage, deform and work the metal in the neck of the blank to form V-sided threads therein.

Motor I is then stopped and clamping means 66 is released. If the resulting threaded neck is engaged with the threads of die 36, the same may be released by starting back off motor 44 to rotate spindle shaft 3 |-32 until die 36 threads out of the threaded neck, whereupon the blank may be lifted from the machine and another blank placed thereon for repeating the operation.

It will be understood that oscillation of lever 49 by cam 41 moves die 56 in parallel relation with die 36 so that no squeezing action results, as distinguished from the roller swaging pressure exerted between the dies. Moreover, any tendency of the cam 41 to exert a tilting force on the head, which would produce wabbling during rotation thereof, is resisted because lever 49 is tied through bearings 52 and 35 to shaft 3I-32, which shaft in turn is tied by bearing 4l to frame l0, in which rotary head is mounted.

Lever 4B is thus constrained to move about a vertical axis parallel to the axis about which the rotary head moves, so that no tilting force is transmitted to the head from the lever.

-If the apparatus requires inspection or repair, the entire head 20 and associated mechanism can be readily removed by removing the clamping mechanism, then removing cover ring 2| and disconnecting coupling 33, whereupon rotary head and associated mechanism can be lifted from frame I0.

Accordingly, the present improvements provide a construction of thread swaging apparatus 'in which there is no abnormal wear on the bearings for the rotary dies and for the mounting and driving means therefor; in which the rotary head in the apparatus is not subjected to tilting or wabbling during operation of the apparatus; in which no squeezing pressure between the threading dies occurs; in which no special bearings are required; and which is therefore relatively inexpensive to construct and maintain.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art;rbecause such words, in being used for descriptive purposes and not for the purpose of limitation, are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the invention is not limited to the exact structures shown herein, because the sizes of the various parts may be varied to provide other structural embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Having now described the features of the invention, the construction, manufacture and use of a preferred form of the same, and the advantages and results obtained by the use of the same; the new and useful inventions, constructions, devices and methods, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

A1. In apparatus for roller swaging V-sided pipe threads in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal blank, a frame, a rotary head plate Vmounted on said lever means, means for rotating the head plate, means for rotating the rotatable die, and means for moving the lever means to move the rotatable die radially of the stationary die,

2. In apparatus for roller swaging V-sided pipe threads in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal blank, a frame, a rotary head platel journaled in the frame, a rotatably xed shaft extending through said plate within the periphery thereof, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said shaft, bearing means on said frame for said shaft, lever means pivotally mounted on said head plate on an axis parallel with said shaft, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said lever means pivot, said shaft and pivot upper and lower bearings being respectively adjacent one another, a plurality of roller dies having complementary V-sided pipe thread formations thereon, one of said dies being fixed to said shaft and another being rotatably mounted on said lever means, means for rotating the head plate, means for rotating the rotatable die, and means for moving the lever means to move the rotatable die radially of the stationary die.

3. Inapparatus for roller swaging V-sided pipe threads in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal blank, a frame, a rotary head plate journaled in the frame, a rotatably fixed shaft extending through said plate within the periphery thereof, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said shaft, bearing means on said frame for said shaft, lever means pivotally mounted on said head plate, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said lever means pivot, said shaft and pivot upper and lower bearings being respectively adjacent one another, a plurality of roller dies having complementary V-sided pipe thread formations thereon, one of said dies being fixed to said shaft and another being rotatably mounted on said lever means, means for rotating the head plate, means for rotating the rotatable die, and means for moving the lever means to move the rotatable die radially of the stationary die, including cam means mounted on said shaft between the lower shaft bearing and the frame bearing for said shaft.

4. In apparatus for roller swaging V-sided pipe threads in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal blank, a frame, a rotary head plate journaled in the frame, a rotatably fixed shaft extending through said plate within the periphery thereof, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said shaft, bearing meanson said frame for said shaft, lever means pivotally mounted on said head plate, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said lever means pivot, said shaft and pivot upper and lower bearings being respectively adjacent one another, the lower bearings also being adjacent the frame bearing for said shaft, a plurality of roller dies having complementary V-sided pipe thread formations thereon, one of said dies being fixed to said shaft and another being rotatably mounted on said lever means, means for rotating the head plate, means for rotating the rotatable die, and means for moving the lever means to move the rotatable die radially of the stationary die.

5. In apparatus for roller swaging V-sided pipe threads in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal blank, a frame, a rotary head plate journaled in the frame, a rotatably fixed shaft extending through said plate within the periphery thereof, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said shaft, bearing means on said frame for said shaft, lever means pivotally mounted on said head plate, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said lever means pivot, said shaft and pivot upper and lower bearings being respectively adjacent one another, a plurality of roller dies having complementary V-sided pip-e thread formations thereon, one cf said dies being fixed to said shaft adjacent said upper shaft bearing and another being rotatably mounted on said lever means adjacent said upper pivot bearing, means for rotating the head plate, means for rotating the rotatable die, and means for moving the lever means to move the rotatable die radially of the stationary die.

6. In apparatus for roller swaging V-sided pipe threads in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal blank, a frame, a rotary head plate journaled in the frame, a rotatably fixed shaft extending through said plate within the periphery thereof, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said shaft, bearing means on said frame for said shaft, lever means pivotally mounted on said head plate on an axis parallel with said shaft, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said lever means pivot, said shaft and pivot upper and lower bearings being respectively adjacent one another, the lower bearings also being adjacent the frame bearing for said shaft, a plurality of roller dies having complementary V-sided pipe thread formations thereon, one of said dies being fixed to said shaft adjacent said upper shaft bearing and another being rotatably mounted on said lever means adjacent said upper pivot bearing on an axis parallel to said shaft and pivot axes, means for rotating the head plate, means for rotating the rotatable die, and means for moving the lever and means to move the rotatable die radially of the stationarydie including cam means mounted on said shaft between the lower shaft bearing and the frame bearing for said shaft.

7. In apparatus for roller swaging V-sided pipe threads in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal blank, a frame, a rotary head plate journaled in the frame, a rotatably fixed shaft extending through said plate Within the periphery thereof, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said shaft, bearing means on said frame for said shaft, lever means pivotally mounted on said head plate, bearing means on said plate for said lever pivot, said pvot bearing means being adjacent one of said shaft bearings, a plurality of roller dies having complementary V-sided pipe thread formations thereon, one of said dies being Xed to said shaft and another being rotatably mounted on said lever means, means for rotating the head plate, means for rotating the rotatable die, and means for moving the lever means to move the rotatable die radially of the stationary die.

8. In apparatus for roller swaging V-sided pipe threads, in a neck projecting integrally from a sheet metal blank, a frame, a rotary head plate journaled in the frame, a rotatably fixed shaft extending through said plate within the periphery thereof, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said shaft, lever means pivotally mounted on said head plate, spaced upper and lower bearings on said plate for said lever means pivot, said shaft and pivot upper and lower bearings being respectively adjacent one another, a plurality of roller dies having complementary V-sided pipe thread formations thereon, one of said dies being xed to said shaft and another being rotatably mounted on said lever means, means for rotating the head plate, means for rotating the rotatable die, and means for moving the lever means to move the rotatable die radially of the stationary die.

JOHN W. SHERA 

